Strawberry plant named Madeira

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a new and distinct variety of strawberry named ‘Madeira’. The variety is similar to the varieties ‘Marathon’ and ‘Biscayne’. The variety is distinguished from Marathon and Biscayne, in particular, by its flat habit, dense plant density, obtuse terminal leaflet shape, same size calyx in relation to fruit on the secondary fruit, and fruit with weak to medium acidity.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The new variety originated as a result of a controlled cross between the strawberry 7C171 and 21Y13 (both unpatented varieties) in an ongoing breeding program, and was discovered as a seedling in a controlled breeding plot in Hillsborough County, Florida in December, 1997. The original seedling was asexually propagated by stolons in a nursery in Shasta County, California. Propagules were transplanted to a controlled breeding plot in Hillsborough County, Florida where the variety was identified and selected for further evaluation. Madeira was subsequently asexually propagated and underwent further testing in Hillsborough County, Florida for five years. This propagation and testing has demonstrated that the combination of traits disclosed herein which characterize the new variety are fixed and retained true to type through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of strawberry named ‘Madeira’. The variety is botanically identified as Fragaria×ananassa. The new variety is distinguished from other varieties by a number of characteristics as set forth in Tables 1-4.

COMPARISON TO SIMILAR VARIETIES

[0003] The varieties which we believe to be similar to Madeira from those known to us are ‘Biscayne’ (U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/396,214 filed Sep. 15, 1999) and ‘Marathon’ (U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/396,213 filed Sep. 15, 1999). There are several characteristics of the new variety that are different from, or not possessed by Biscayne or Marathon. The base of the terminal leaflet shape is obtuse. The pose of the petiole hairs is downwards. The size of the calyx in relation to fruit on the secondary fruit is smaller.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0004] The accompanying photographs show typical specimens of the new variety, including fruit, foliage and flowers, in color as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make in color illustrations of these characteristics.

[0005]FIG. 1 shows the whole plant.

[0006]FIG. 2 shows the leaves of the plant.

[0007]FIG. 3 shows the upper side and the under side of the flowers.

[0008]FIG. 4 shows a close-up of the fruit.

[0009]FIG. 5 shows the fruit in longitudinal cross-section.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

[0010] The following detailed description of the new variety is based upon observations taken of plants and fruit grown in Hillsborough, Fla., USA. Observations of Madeira, Marathon, and Biscayne were taken in side by side comparison in January, 2001. This description is in accordance with UPOV terminology. Color designations, color descriptions, and other phenotypical descriptions may deviate from the stated values and descriptions depending upon variation in environmental, seasonal, climatic and cultural conditions. Colors are described and the most similar color designations are provided from The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Propagation

[0011] The new variety is principally propagated by way of stolons or by tissue culture. Although propagation by stolons or tissue culture is presently preferred, other known methods of propagating strawberry plants may be employed.

Characteristics of the New Variety

[0012] Information on the new variety is presented in Tables 1, 2, 3 and 4. In the tables, the flowers described are secondary flowers except where indicated. The petal color of Madeira is white, 155C in the RHS Color Chart. The fruit described is the secondary fruit on one year old plants. Fruit and flower measurements are an average of both primary and secondary fruit and flowers.

[0013] Table 1 provides information on the plant and fruit characteristics of the new variety Madeira compared with characteristics of Marathon and Biscayne. Table 2 provides additional information of the plant and fruit characteristics of the new variety Madeira compared with characteristics of the varieties Marathon and Biscayne. Table 3 provides information of the new variety's reaction to pests and diseases, respectively, compared to the varieties Marathon and Biscayne. Table 4 provides isozyme characteristics of the new variety as compared to the varieties Marathon and Biscayne. TABLE 1 DETAILED COMPARISON OF MADEIRA, BISCAYNE AND MARATHON Madeira Biscayne Marathon Plant Characteristics Height of Plant (cm) 17 13.7 14.3 Spread of Plant (cm) 28.2 32.7 34.1 Number of Crowns 4.8 6.9 6.0 Leaf Characteristics Terminal Leaflet Length 8.0 6.9 8.8 (cm) Terminal Leaflet Width (cm) 7.0 7.2 8.3 Terminal Leaflet 1.14 0.96 1.06 Length/Width Ratio # Teeth/Terminal Leaflet 19.9 26.0 25.7 Color of upper side 147A 137A 137B dark green light green light green Color of under side 137B 139C 139C light gray light gray light gray green green green Petiole Length (cm) 11.6 11.4 11.9 Petiole Color 145A 141D 144B yellow-green yellow-green yellow-green Bract Frequency 90% 100% 80% mostly mostly paired paired Stipule Length (cm) 3.6 3.6 3.3 Stipule Width (cm) 2.6 2.0 2.1 Flower Characteristics Petal Length (cm) 1.55 1.29 1.47 Petal Width (cm) 1.36 1.45 1.66 Petal Length/Width Ratio 1.14 0.89 0.89 Flower Diameter (cm) 3.6 3.36 4.14 Calyx Diameter (cm) 3.08 4.17 4.82 Flower Color 155C 155C 155C white white white Fruit Characteristics Fruit Length (cm) 4.9 4.1 4.6 Fruit Width (cm) 4.3 3.9 4.0 Fruit Length/Width Ratio 1.15 1.06 1.13 Average Berry Weight (g) 19 18 26 External Color 46A 46B 42A dark red red orange red Internal Color 43A 44A 42C medium red medium red light red Achene Coloration 12A to 178B 13B to 46A 12A to 46A yellow to yellow to red yellow to red dark red Yield (g/plant) 432 335 539

[0014] TABLE 2 CHARACTERISTICS OF MADEIRA, BISCAYNE AND MARATHON Madeira Biscayne Marathon Plant Habit flat globose flat globose flat globose Density medium medium medium Vigor strong strong strong Leaf Shape in cross section concave concave concave Interveinal blistering medium weak medium Glossiness medium medium medium Number of leaflets three only three only three only Terminal leaflet revolute revolute revolute margin profile Terminal leaflet shape obtuse rounded slightly of base oblique Terminal leaflet shape rounded rounded obtuse of teeth Stipule pubescence medium medium medium Petiole pubescence medium medium medium Petiole pose of hairs downwards outwards outwards Stolon Number many many medium to many Anthocyanin strong to strong medium to coloration very strong strong Thickness medium to medium medium to thick thick Pubescence medium medium sparse Inflorescence Position relative to beneath level beneath foliage Diameter of calyx larger larger larger relative to corolla on secondary flowers Diameter of inner same size same size same size calyx relative to outer on secondary flowers Spacing of petals overlapping overlapping overlapping Fruiting Truss Fruiting Truss Length 13.7 17.1 18.3 (cm) Attitude at first prostrate prostrate prostrate picking Fruit Predominant shape conical conical cordate Difference in shapes slight slight slight between primary and secondary fruits Band without achenes narrow narrow narrow Unevenness of surface weak weak weak Evenness of color even even slightly uneven Glossiness strong strong strong Insertion of achenes level with level with below surface surface surface Insertion of calyx level level level Pose of the calyx reflexed spreading spreading segments Size of calyx in smaller larger larger relation to fruit on secondary fruit Adherence of calyx strong strong strong Firmness of flesh medium firm medium Evenness of flesh slightly slightly slightly color uneven uneven uneven Distribution of flesh marginal and marginal and marginal and color central central central Hollow center size medium large medium Sweetness weak to strong weak to medium medium Texture when tasted fine fine fine Acidity weak to medium medium medium Time of Flowering very early early very early Harvest Interval Late- Early- Early- November December December through through through Mid-April Mid-April Mid-April Type of Bearing partially partially partially everbearing everbearing everbearing

Pest and Disease Resistance and Susceptibility

[0015] TABLE 3 Madeira Biscayne Marathon Reaction to Pests Tetranychus urticae susceptible susceptible susceptible Aphis spp. susceptible susceptible susceptible Lygus hesperus susceptible susceptible susceptible Reaction To Diseases Botrytis fruit rot moderately moderately moderately susceptible susceptible susceptible Powdery mildew moderately susceptible susceptible susceptible Verticillium wilt moderately susceptible susceptible resistant Strawberry Mottle Virus moderately moderately moderately resistant resistant resistant Xanthomonas fragariae moderately moderately moderately susceptible susceptible susceptible

Isozyme Analysis

[0016] In addition to the morphological description above, the new cultivar, Madeira, has been analyzed to obtain an indication of its genetic makeup to provide further means for identifying the new variety and distinguishing it from some other somewhat similar and/or related strawberry varieties. Specifically, leaf samples of Madeira, Biscayne, and Marathon were analyzed by electrophoresis for isozyme patterns of the enzymes phosphoglucoisomerase (“PGI”), leucine aminopeptidase (“LAP”) and phosphoglucomutase (“PGM”). See J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 106:684-687. Isozyme characterization of the three varieties is presented in Table 4, with the letters representing the banding patterns for each enzyme as designated in the above-identified article. TABLE 4 ISOZYME ANALYSIS FOR MADEIRA, BISCAYNE AND MARATHON Locus Madeira Biscayne Marathon PGI A1 A1 A1 LAP B1 B3 B3 PGM C2 C4 C4 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of strawberry plant, substantially as shown and described. 